Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Six Islamist Terrorists Charged With Plotting Attack on Fort Dix, NJ

Six men described by federal prosecutors as "Islamic militants" werearrested on charges they plotted to attack the Fort Dix Army base and"kill as many soldiers as possible," authorities said Tuesday.

The six were scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Camden laterTuesday to face charges of conspiracy to kill U.S. servicemen, saidMichael Drewniak, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in NewJersey.

Officials said four of the men were born in the formerYugoslavia, one in Jordan and one in Turkey. Five of them lived inCherry Hill, 10 miles east of Philadelphia and 20 miles southwest ofFort Dix, Drewniak said.

"They were planning an attack on Fort Dix in which they would kill as many soldiers as possible," Drewniak said.

Alaw enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity becausedocuments in the case remain sealed, said the attack was stopped in theplanning stages.

Authorities believe the men trained in thePoconos for the attack and also conducted surveillance at other areamilitary institutions, including Fort Monmouth, the official said. Theofficial said that the men had lived in the United States for some time.

The six were arrested trying to buy automatic weapons in a sale set-up by law enforcement authorities, the official said.

...

The description of the suspects as "Islamic militants" was causingrenewed worry among New Jersey's Muslim community. Hundreds of Muslimmen from New Jersey were rounded up and detained by authorities in themonths following the Sept. 11 attacks, but none was connected to thatplot. [BLOGGER'S NOTE: THIS ASSERTION BY THE A.P. MAY NOT BE TRUE.]

"If these people did something, then they deserve to bepunished to the fullest extent of the law," said Sohail Mohammed, alawyer who represented scores of detainees after the 2001 attacks. "Butwhen the government says 'Islamic militants,' it sends a message to thepublic that Islam and militancy are synonymous.&nbsp; "Don't equate actions with religion," he said.

----------------------------------------------------

OF COURSE, the ones equating religion and terrorism are the terrorists.&nbsp; If a group of terrorists say that they are killing in the name of god, then WHY in the name of god shouldn't we say so?